Automatic pressure-regulator for gas-collecting mains.



0. F. GREIM.

EUTOMATIG PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR GAS COLLECTING MAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001. 6, 1908. 974,260.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

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Witnesses,

0. F. GREIM.- 7 AUTOMATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR GAS COLLECTING MAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 5, 1908' 974,260. Patented Nov. 1, 191-0.

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llttorney.

0. F. GREIM.

AUTOMATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR GAS COLLECTING MAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 5, 1908. 974,260.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W'ot'nesses:

W may zziwmw 0. P. GREIM.

AUTOMATIC rnnssunn REGULATOR FOR (ms commune MAINS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1908. 974,260, PatentedNov. 1, 191(I 4SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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OTTO F. GREIM, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A'SSIGNOR TO THE MILWAUKEE COKEAND GAS COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ACORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed October 5, 1908. Serial No. 456,139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro F. GREIM,

citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at lvlilwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Pressure Regulators for Mains, of which thefollowing is a specitication, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to means for regulating and controlling thepressure in the collectingor so called hydraulic mains into which thegas is delivered from the ovens of coke plants or from the retort-s ofgas works. Its main objects are to automatically control and toaccurately and reliably regulate the pressure in such mains, andgenerally to improve the construction and operation of apparatus forthis purpose.

It consists in certain novel features of construction. and in thepeculiar arrangement and combinations of parts as hereinafterparticularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts inthe several figures. 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of,the mechanism of a regulator embodyingthe inven tion, the protecting case being shown in section; Fig. 2 is aplan View of the mechanism of the regulator; Fig. 3 is a. horizontalsection on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a vertical section on theline i 4, Figs. 1 and 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the electricconnections of the regulator and its connections with a gas collectingmain.

Referring to Fig. 5, a designates a gas collecting conduit or so calledhydraulic main, into which gas is delivered from coke ovens or from theretorts of a gas works through pipes I). c is a-pipe called the foulmain, through which the gas is pumped or drawn from the collecting main0; to washers or purifying apparatus. A valve d 'regulates the flow ofgas from the main 0 throughthe pipe 0 and hence regulates the pressurein said main, inwvhich a low pres sure is maintained according to theusual practice. I

.. Referring now to the other figures of the drawing showing theregulator proper in its preferred form, 6 1s a rocker shaft-providedwith a segment worm gear 7 and with an 7 Gas Collecting with an arm 2 onthe rocker shaft 6.

arm 9 which is connected as shown in Fig. 5, by a rod or otherwise, withan arm on the stem of the valve (Z.

k is an electric motor having a pinion i on its armature shaft meshingwith a gear j on a shaft 77 which is provided with a worm Z meshing withthe gear f.

An expansion chamber consisting in 'the' present instance of a bell orfloat m suspended from a yoke or lever 11. in a receptacle 0 containinga sealing liquid, is connected as shownin Fig. 5, by a pipe 39 with themain a. The hell or float m is delicately guided in its verticalmovement by rollers q. The yoke or lever n is fulcrumed as shown in Fig.3, by cone-pointed screws in the ends of a short horizontal shaft 1, andupon its end opposite the float m are mounted a pair of insulated springor yield ing contact pieces 8. This yoke or lever is also provided witha pair of screw rods on which weights t are threaded for accuratelybalancing the bell or float m when it is subjected to the pressure it isdesired to maintain in the collecting main a. On opposite sides and inthe paths of the contact springs s insulated contact pieces a arecarried by arms '2), which are pivotally mounted on the shaft 7*concentric with the axis or fulcrum of the yoke or lever 72.

The contact pieces to preferably consist of screws which are separatelyadjustable in the arms 2;, so that they may be accurately set toproperly engage withthe springs 8. At their pivoted ends the arms 2) areformed with recessed hubs containing magnetcoils "w, and between them ispivotally mounted on the'shaft r an oscillatory disk as having an arm 1adjustably connected by a rod The recessed hubs of the arms o with theirmagnet coils and the interposed disk 00 serve as clutches to connect themotor with either pair of contact pieces u through which the circuit maybe closed, .as hereinafter explained. A spring 2 connecting the arms 2),

tends to draw them together toward the intermediate contact springs 8,their movement in this direction beinglimited by the engagement of lugs3 on the hubs of the arms with lugs 4 on the standards 5 supporting theshaft 1*. In the central normal position of the contact springs s thecontact screws u are thus held'out of engagement therewith.

To prevent accidental overrunning of the mechanism at the limits of thedesired movement in opposite directions of the valve d, safety stops orcircuit breakers are provided, consisting of insulated springs 6,mounted in the paths of insulating trip cams 7 on the shaft 6, andconnected in series with one pair of the contact pieces u, and normallyengaging with a metallic plate or bar 8 which is connected with one ofthe mains of the circuit.

The electrical connections of the regulator may be conveniently madesubstantially as shown in Fig 5. The contact springs s are connected byconductors 9 with the armature 10 of the motor. The contact screws u arecross connected by conductors 11, 12, 13 and 14 with the circuit breakersprings 6, and one circuit main 15, the magnet coils a being included inthe conductors 13 and 14 in series with one of the upper and one of thelower contact pieces. The contact plate or bar 8 of the safety stops orcircuit breakers is connected with the other circuit main 16, in whichthe field 17 of the motor and a magnetic motor brake 18 may be included.

The apparatus is preferably provided at some convenient point, as in thepipe p, with a gage 19, to indicate the pressure in the collecting maina.

The operation of the regulator may be briefly explained as follows byreference to Fig. 5, in which the valve 1) is shown partially open andthe electric contact pieces in their normal positions: Assuming now thatthe pressure in the main adrops slightly, the bell or float at willdescend, carrying the contact springs 8 into engagement with the upperpair of contact screws 21. This will close the motor circuit from themain 16 through the conductor 11, conductors 9, armature 10 andconductor 13 to the other main 15. The magnetic brake 18 being thusreleased, the motor will start and swing the rocker arm g to the left,thereby closing the valve d more or less according to the extent of thedescent of the bell or float m and the flexure of the contact springs s,by engagement with the upper contact screws u, Upon the closing of thecircuit as above stated, the clutch magnet of the upper arm a; isenergized, gripping the hub of said arm to the disk at, which is beingturned to the left by the movement of the arm 2. The up per contactscrews u are thus carried upward against the tension of thespring 2 andthe circuit will be broken and the motor stopped as soon as the springss are straightened and the screws 14 are moved out of engagementtherewith. The flow of gas from the main a through the pipe 0 is thusslightly checkedor reduced, and this tends to increase the pressure insaid main. lVhen the motor circuit is broken as above stated, the clutchmagnet w is deelnergized and the uppipe 0.

per pair of contact screws u is returned to its original position by thespring '2, its movement being limited by engagement of the associatedstop lugs 3 and 1. In the meantime if the pressure in the main a has notbeen increased sufficiently to return the bell or float m and thesprings s to their normal positions, the upper contact screws u in theirdescentwill again engage with said springs, close the motor circuit andfurther close the valve (Z as above explained, gradually moving thevalve (Z step by step toward its closed position until the normalpressure in the main (I has been restored and the bell or float mand thecontact springs s returned to their original normal positions. In casethe pressure in the main arises abovethe normal for which the governoris adjusted, the bell or float m will be lifted and move the contactsprings a downward into engagement with the lower pair of contact screws11, thereby closing the motor circuit through the conductors 12 and 1+1,and the lower pair of contact screws, and reversing the current throughthe conductors 9 and the motor armature 10. The motor being thus startedin a reverse direction, swings the rocker arm f/ to the right, openingthe valve ll slightly more and permitting a slightly increased flow ofgas from the main a through the During this operation the hub of thelower arm '0 is clutched to and turned with the disk 0: to the right,thereby carryiiig tlie lower contact screws 11 downward till thespringss are straightened and the circuit is broken, whereupon said arm andcontact screws will be instantly returned to their original positions bythe sprin It normal pressure in the main 4 has not been restored and thesprings s returned to their middle and normal position, the circuit willbe again closed, and the valve d turned by the motor another interval inthe same direction. These operations will be repeated gradually openingthe valve step by step until normal pressure is established in the mainor and the contact pieces of the governor resume their original normalpositions, as shown by the drawing. This gradual step by step operationof the governor and movement of the regulating valve (Z avoids abruptfluctuations in pressure due to the momentum of parts of the mechanism,and insures a substantially constant pressure in the collecting main (2without care or attention.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement ofparts of the ing with said main and having a movable part and meansconnected with said movable part and controlling the operation of themotor according to variations of pressure in said main, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of means for operating said valve and meansfor automatically controlling the valve operating means comprising amovable part subjected to the pressure in said main, a movable electriccontact piece connected with said movable part, and opposing movableelectric contact pieces arranged on opposite sides and in the path ofthe other contact piece and each adapted to be shifted by the valveoperating means away from the intermediate contact piece when thecircuit is closed, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of a motor for operating said valve, anexpansion chamber communicating with said main and having a movable partand electro-magnet1c means controlling the operation of the motor andcomprising a .movable contact piece connected with the movable part ofthe expansion chamber, 0pposing contact pieces arranged on oppositesides and in the path of the other contact piece and movable by themotor away from the intermediate contact piece and means for returningthe outer contact pieces to normal position when the circuit is broken,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of a motor for operating said valve, amovable part subjected to the pressure in said main, andelectro-magnetic means controlling the operation of the motor and themovement thereby of said valve according to variations of pressure inthe main and comprising a contact piece connected with said movablepart, movable contact pieces arranged on opposite sides and in the pathof the other contact piece, means tending to move the outer contactpieces toward each other, stops limiting the approach of said outercontact pieces toward each other and holding them nor.- mally out ofengagement with the intermediate contact piece, an oscillatory partconnected with the motor and means adapted to connect either outercontact piece toward which the intermediate contact piece is moved withsaid oscillatory part, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of an electric motor connected with saidvalve, and means forclosing and opening the motor circuit and reversingthe current through the same, comprising a movable part subjected to thepressure in said main,insulated contact pieces connected with saidmovable part, opposing contact pieces arranged in pairs on oppositesides and in the paths of the intermediate contact pieces and movabletoward and from the same, the outer pairs of contact pieces being crossconnected with the circuit,.and means for connectin either pair of theouter con tact pieces with said oscillatory part when the circuit isclosed through them, substantially as described.

7 The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controlling thepressure in said main, of an electric motor for operat ing said valveand means for closing and opening the motor circuit and reversing thecurrent through the same, comprising a movable part subject-ed to thepressure in said main, a pair of insulatedcontact pieces connected withsaid movable part, insulated contact pieces arranged in pairs onopposite sides and in the paths of the other contact pieces and movabletoward and from the same, means tending to move the outer pairs ofcontact pieces toward each other, stops for limiting the approach of theouter contact pieces and holding them normally out of engagement withthe intermediate contact pieces, the outer pairs of contact pieces beingcross connected with the circuit, an oscillatory part connected with themotor and magnetic clutches adapted toconnect each pair of outer contactpieces with said oscillatory part, and to move them away from theintermediate contact pieces when the circuit is closed through them,

diate contact pieces and movable toward and from the same, the outerpairs of contact pieces being cross connected with the circuit, anoscillatory part-connected with themotor and means for connecting eachpair of contact pieces when the circuit is closed through them with saidoscillatory part, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of an electric motor for operating saidvalve, means for closing and opening the motor circuit and reversing thecurrent through the same, comprising an expansion chamber consisting ofa receptacle containing a liquid and communicating above the liquid withsaid main, and a vertically movable bell suspended in said receptacleover its connection with the main, a pair of insulated contact piecesconnected with said bell. insulated contact pieces arranged in pairs onopposite sides and in the paths of the other contact pieces and crossconnected with the motor circuit and connections with the motor adaptedto move each outer pair of contact pieces when the circuit is closedthrough them away from the intermediate contact pieces, substantially asdescribed.

10. The combination witha gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of a rocker connected with said valve, anelectric motor connected with said rocker and means for closing themotor circuit and reversing the current through the same, comprising amovable part subjected to the pressure in said main, a pair of contactpieces connected with said movable part, an oscillatory part connectedwith said rocker. rocker arms concentric with said 08- cillatory part,insulated contact pieces mounted in pairs on said arms on opposite sidesand in the paths of the other contact pieces and cross connected withthe motor circuit, stops limiting the approach of said arms toward eachother, a spring tending to draw said arms together, and clutches adapted to connect each arm when the circuit is closed through the contactpieces thereon with said oscillatory part, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of an electric motor for operating said valveand means for opening and closing the motor circuit and reversing thecurrent therein according to variations of ressure in said main,substantially as described.

12. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valvecontrollingthe ressure in said main, of an electric motor tor operating said valve,means for opening and closing the motor circuit and reversing thecurrent therein according to variations of pressure in said main, andautomatic circuit breakers adapted to open the motor circuit at certainlimits in the movement of said valve, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, an electric motor for operating said valveand means for closing and open ing the motor circuit and reversing thecurrent therein, comprising an adjustably weighted part movable byvariations of pressure in said main, a pair of insulated contact pieces,a lever connecting said contact pieces with said movable part, rockerarms provided with separately adjustable insulated contact pieces onopposite sides and in the paths of the other contact pieces, stops forlimiting t-hemovement of said arms toward each other, means tending tomove said arms toward each other, and means adapted to cause the motorto swing either arm when the circuit is closed through its contactpieces, away from the other arm, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a gas collecting main and a valve controllingthe pressure in said main, of a rocker connected with said valve, amotor for operating said rocker and means adapted to automatically closeand open the motor circuit and reverse the current therein, comprising apart movable by variations of pressure in said main, a pair of insulatedcontact pieces connected with said part, an oscillatory disk connectedwith said rocker, rocker arms pivoted concentric with said disk andprovided adjacent thereto with magnetic clutches, a spring tending tomove said arms towardeach other, stops lim-- it-ing such movement ofsaid arms, and insulated contact pieces mounted on said arms on oppositesides and in the paths of the other contact pieces and cross connectedwith the motor circuit, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

OTTO F. GREIM. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. Goes, ALIoE E. Gross.

